About the Director,Amy Bejm Syversen

Mrs. Syversen is currently in her fourteenth year of teaching. She is the band director at both West Friendship and Dayton Oaks Elementary Schools in Howard County, Maryland and has a private trumpet studio in Western Howard County.

Mrs. Syversen holds a Master's of Music Degree with concentration in Music Education from The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD and a Bachelor of Arts Degree with concentration in Music Education N-12/Trumpet from Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD. She is currently taking additional graduate classes through Adams State University. While at Salisbury University Mrs. Syversen was president of her local MENC: The National Association for Music Education Chapter 416 as well as principal trumpet for the University's Wind Ensemble, Brass Quintet, and Jazz Ensemble, member of the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra on both trumpet and french horn, member of the Youth Symphony Orchestra on french horn, member of the Classical Guitar Ensemble on guitar as well as performer on trumpet and french horn for the University's choirs. While attending Salisbury University Mrs. Syversen was awarded the Presidential Scholarship, Hope Scholarship, Nettie C. Bentley Scholarship, Guerrieri University Center Award for Music, Who' Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Achievement Key Award, (NAIBM): MENC National Instrumental Teacher Grant, entrance into the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and consistent Dean's List member. Currently, Mrs. Syversen is principal trumpet with the Bayside Brass Quintet.

Some fun facts about Mrs. Syversen is that she performed the National Anthem for the Orioles in 2014 and she was asked to perform with Barry Manilow, where she got to perform Manilow's original songs amongst his original orchestra members. Mrs. Syversen has twin sisters three years younger than her and two daughter's named Camden, after the Baltimore Orioles, and Addison, after the Chicago Cubs. Mrs. Syversen went to Hammond Elementary School, Laurel Woods Elementary School, Hammond Middle School and Atholton High School in Howard County. Mrs. Syversen and her family are vegetarians and have a red heeler (Australian Cattle Dog) named Amber.